August 25, 2008

Jones: 'Doubting Thomas not Uncle Tom'

DENVER—An alleged slur delivered by a mentor of Barack Obama to a supporter of one-time Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has stirred up the volatile issues of race and gender for an already fracture-filled Illinois Democratic Party.

This morning, as the state’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention held their initial organizing breakfast, state Senate President Emil Jones said an African-American supporter of Hillary Clinton was mistaken when she claimed he called her an “Uncle Tom.” The derogatory term refers to a black who is overly eager to win white approval.

Jones, himself an African American, maintained Delmarie Cobb, a longtime Chicago public relations executive, misunderstood a comment in which he said it was time for those who continue to back the New York senator and former first lady to stop being “Doubting Thomases” and rally around Obama.

“She walked away and I said, ‘All you Doubting Thomases have to get on board,” Jones said of his discussion with Cobb over the weekend. “She turned around and said, ‘You called us?’ and I said, ‘No. That’s not so.’ I thought it was all over with. She just caught the last word of what I said. People make mistakes.”

Jones, who is retiring from the Illinois Senate at the end of his term in January, said he was not making any apologies to Cobb because he contended he was merely misunderstood. Jones also said he has not reached out to Cobb or others who contended he made a racial slur. He also said he was not contacted by the Obama campaign.

Cobb and at least two Chicago aldermen told friends that Jones made the “Uncle Tom” reference after a back-and-forth with the Senate president that started lightheartedly.

The contretemps served to highlight the controversial role that race and gender has played in the extended Democratic presidential campaign against Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York—even among delegates in the home state of Obama, who is expected to claim the nomination on Thursday night.

Bonnie Grabenhofer, the president of the National Organization for Women’s Illinois chapter and a Clinton supporter, said the remarks that Cobb alleged Jones made symbolized “the incredible pressure that had been put on, particularly women, to support Barack Obama.”

“Women in Illinois had that pressure, and it was particularly hard for African-American women who were placed in the untenable position of having to chose between their race and between their gender,” Grabenhofer said.

Gay Bruhn, a longtime women’s rights activist who is a Clinton delegate from the far western suburbs, said she will cast a nominating vote for the former first lady. She criticized national Democratic Party leaders and Obama’s team for allowing “blatant sexism” and “meanspiritedness.”

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, who chairs the Illinois delegation, called upon the delegation—and particularly its Clinton supporters--to unite around Obama’s candidacy.

“I just want to thank Hillary Clinton for staying in the race--made us better supporters of Barack Obama, made Barack Obama a better candidate,” Daley said.

“Like anything else in a primary, a lot of discussions, a lot of debate goes on and a lot of accusations. But it’s over with. And now we have to move on. The primary is over with. And let’s all unite on behalf of Barack Obama. We don’t want to hear any dissent,” he said.

Daley warned delegates not to respond to “all the negative things that the other candidate will bring forward,” a reference to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

“This few days…let’s be positive about our candidate. Don’t respond in negative ways. Bring out the best in people,” he said.

The controversy over Jones, who last week engineered the selection of his son to replace him on the ballot for his South Side state Senate seat, marked an inauspicious beginning for the Illinois delegation’s appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Jones has been the most loyal legislative ally of embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Blagojevich is skipping the opening session of the delegation, choosing instead to announce his rewriting of a state ethics bill that legislative sponsors in the House and Senate have already promised to override.

@Jimmy:
"...picking between a candidate with an atrocious record on woman's issues (John McCain) and one with a solid record and view on woman's issues and social issues (Barack Obama)."

Could you please provide an example of these so called records or yours? BTW, wasn't Obama the one who consistently condescended women by calling them "sweetie" and "honey" until the media finally called him on it?
This election should be taken seriously and both candidate's positions on the issues should be weighed carefully by any prospective voter. Don't start spitting out "records" without backing them up.

Jeebus!! I guess you didn't get much (christian) church learnin' when you were young. "Doubting Thomas" was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ; he doubted (there'e the word) that Christ had been resurrected. Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds from the cruxifiction. After doing so, Thomas believed. Thus, "Doubting Thomas", a reference any christian should understand.

What Emil Jones actually said, I have no idea; but calling the folks he was talking to "Doubting Thomases" is perfectly appropriate given the circumstances (assuming that the group was not predominately non-christian, fof which there is no evidence).

I certainly do not know what the truth is in this situation but I do know for a fact that Emil has been less than "understanding" with Hillary delegates. I spoke to my dear friend as she was packing to leave for Colorado, a HRC delegate, and she reminded me, again, of his words to her when she saw him in Sprignfield -- telling her she was supporting the wrong person and she needed to get on board. Maybe I should call her on her cell and see if she overheard this.

Democrats are irony deficient??? What about McSame and the Greedy Oil People all saying Russia can't invade a soverign country, saying this doesn't happen in the 21st century? I know they forgot about our troops long ago, but now they've forgotten about the invasion of Iraq??? That was the U.S. that invaded Iraq on lies... if they wanted to get the 9/11 terrorists, they should have invaded Saudi Arabia, but the Bu$h familiy wouldn't want to offend the Saudi royal family, since they are in $o tight with them.

Too bad the Democratic convention is not in Chicago celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the the great riots. Us Illinoians could once again show the country and world how disfunctional our state poitics are; particularly those of the Democratic Party.

“Women in Illinois had that pressure, and it was particularly hard for African-American women who were placed in the untenable position of having to chose between their race and between their gender,” Grabenhofer said.

It's too bad they weren't thinking first about what was best for the country.

The Tribune does a disservice to its readers by covering these non-stories. What does this manufactured drama have to do with the real issues facing Americans today, and the candidates plans for dealing with them?

Why does any of this matter? And even if it did, is it somehow inherently wrong for a black person to call another an uncle Tom? Absolutely not. I don't think this is even debatable.

But this article ignores the very heart of an issue, which is that some democrat women are still refusing to support their party's candidate Barack Obama.

The sad part of this debacle is that their ideology of supporting a corrupt, egotistical candidate like Hillary Clinton soley because she is a woman, appears to blind them from the serious issue facing them this election: picking between a candidate with an atrocious record on woman's issues (John McCain) and one with a solid record and view on woman's issues and social issues (Barack Obama).

It will be very sad if pro-Hillary women can't put aside their disappointment and either not vote, or vote for a clearly anti-woman candidate in John McCain out of spite, or perhaps racism.

Doubting Thomas, huh? Now I doubt that. This campaign has proven to be most disgusting. From Rap "stars" using insulting lyrics, to Obama affiliated religious leaders using disgusting language to Uncle Tom comments, I have to wonder what has happened to this party. Add me to the Uncle Tom list because I have grown sick and tired of the unprofessional manner in which Obama surrogates behave. She may not have won the nomination, but she doesn't deserve tar and feathering either. I have great respect for Clinton in the face of the garbage she has endured and will deal with it in the voting booth.

The expression "Doubting Thomas" comes from the Bible. Three days after the crucifixion many of the Apostles and Magdalene all claimed that Jesus had appeared to them. One Apostle,Thomas,said he would not believe it until he saw it for himself,and actually saw the wounds in Christ's wrists,etc. According to the New Testament,Christ then appeared before him, and Thomas said, "My Lord and my God !"

"Women in Illinois had that pressure, and it was particularly hard for African-American women who were placed in the untenable position of having to chose between their race and between their gender,” Grabenhofer said.

There is a fundamental problem with this statement itself in that no one should align themselves with a candidate based on their gender or race. I most certainly hope that this women does not think she speaks for the majority of African American female voters.

I'm tired of being told i'm voting between my race and gender. Only a fool would choose a candidate based on race or gender. My support is going to the candidate I believe will represent me and my country the best. The republicans must be loving this - by the time of the election there will be an epidemic of race and gender fatigue.

To all my fellow women; All of this mess over how low Obama must stoop to kiss behinds in effort to gain favor makes ALL women look stupid and suspect. I thought the goal was to win the White House so that we do not have reeling in of women's rights, human rights, and civil rights.
Are we going to allow silly woman emotions to ruin an opportunity to get closer to the goals of a society that appropriately uses race and gender? What about the least of those who are already suffering and will no doubt be allowed to suffer even more if McCain and the no holds barred free marketers and war mongers win in November? What about the laborers whose access to unionization made our middle class possible? What about our joining the rest of first world nations in extending some type of guaranteed health care to all citizens?
Please read with an open mind the exchange between Mr. Jones and Ms. Cobb; I just do not find her feigned hurt believable, she knew this was friendly banter( if it was stated at all) and her feelings are raw because she probably is feeling the heat and wrath from some black folks who also were hurt at how these women's groups and other Clinton staffers and supporters have so discounted the very people who made the Clintons climb out of the Arkansas swamps possible. I am hurt and disappointed in the Clintons who have the power and ability to stop all this mess and make a deal to hammer out their feelings at a more appropriate and less critical time.

Any woman's group taking part in this mess can depend on the fact that they will never get another dime of donation from me.

What's the point, far worse has been said of both Powell and Rice - and no one cares when it happens. Since apparently it's ok to say horribly offensive racist remarks when the person is to the right politically of you, even if it's just a little right.

Emil Jones once again proves what a big corrupt jerk he is. Unfortunately for the people of Illinois he ran the State Senate. Witnesses heard Jones call Delmarie Cobb an "Uncle Tom" because she supported Hillary Clinton. This guy is Barack Obama's mentor who got Obama into politics. If Obama gets in I hope this is not the type he is going to appoint to high level government positions. If he does our national government will be run "Chicago Style."

All 50 aldermen on the Chicago City Council had to file paperwork earlier this year detailing their outside income and gifts. The Tribune took that ethics paperwork and posted the information here for you to see. You can search by ward number or alderman's last name.

The Cook County Assessor's office has put together lists of projected median property tax bills for all suburban towns and city neighborhoods. We've posted them for you to get a look at who's paying more and who's paying less.

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